Racecards
15:30 Southwell
Percy Thrower's Birthday Mares' Only Novices' Hurdle (Class E)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
Cosmic Song
55- Form P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer R Whitaker
- Jockey R Thornton
behind, effort 3 out, never dangerous
- Form 344-44
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer C Price
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
prominent, led after 2nd, headed 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, ran on to lead again close home
Gallium
49- Form F-6
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer D Caro
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up, ridden and some headway 3 out, weakened approaching next
- Form 82
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
mid-division, headway 5th, went 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
- Form P-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer R Brookhouse
- Jockey R Hobson
in touch, behind from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
prominent, ridden and weakened from 3 out, pulled up before next
Star Seventeen
157- Form 6
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer T H Caldwell
- Jockey P J Brennan
towards rear, headway 6th, weakened next
- Form 0-33P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Mrs H Dalton
- Jockey P G Hourigan
mid-division, ridden and some headway 3 out, soon weakened
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer T H Caldwell
- Jockey J Culloty
took keen hold towards rear, weakened and behind when pulled up 2 out
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer J R Jenkins
- Jockey H Oliver
led and keen until after 2nd, remained close up, ridden 3 out, remote 4th when fell 2 out
Researcher
16- Form 62
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey B J Crowley
tracked leader, led 3rd, ridden 2 out, headed close home, kept on
In depth
Verdict
Not a strong contest by any stretch of the imagination but it looks a good opportunity for Kilmeny who can get off the mark over hurdles. A four-time winner on the level, the daughter of Royal Abjar looked likely to score last time at Fontwell but tired in the testing conditions and will be better served by the better ground and today's shorter trip. The lightly raced Researcher landed a Beverley handicap off a mark of 62 for former handler Ralph Beckett in April but her form tailed off badly and the four-year-old has been soundly beaten on both starts over timber to date so has something to find with the selection. Dancing Pearl has been struggling to last home in her races and is readily opposed while Star Seventeen ran as though something was amiss last week on the Flat but has claims on an all-weather victory off a mark of 63 in October. Ex-German performer Plaisance is difficult to assess but would not need to be anything special on his hurdling debut to figure at this level.